In the early 1990s, Tse Chi Lop arrived in Toronto, a recent immigrant from Guangzhou, China. He settled into a quiet life, working for companies like Fujifilm and Kodak. But beneath the surface, Tse was absorbing the lessons of organized crime, particularly from the Montreal Mafia, which would later inform his own empire-building. By the 2010s, Tse had transformed himself into a criminal mastermind, orchestrating a vast drug syndicate known as Sam Gor—or “The Company”—which law enforcement agencies estimate generated up to $21 billion annually. His operation spanned continents, trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, and ketamine across the Asia-Pacific region, and dominating markets in Australia, Japan, and South Korea. Unlike traditional cartel leaders, Tse operated with corporate precision, employing strategies reminiscent of Fortune 500 companies. His low-profile demeanor and strategic alliances with various criminal organizations allowed him to remain largely invisible, even as his influence grew.
Tse’s ascent was marked by a blend of innovation and ruthlessness. He leveraged the globalization of trade and finance to streamline drug production and distribution, often utilizing legitimate businesses as fronts. His syndicate’s reach was so extensive that it was responsible for a significant portion of the methamphetamine supply in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite his vast network, Tse maintained a low profile, avoiding the flamboyance that characterized other drug lords. However, his empire began to unravel as international law enforcement agencies intensified their efforts. In January 2021, Tse was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport during a layover en route to Canada. His capture was the culmination of a decade-long investigation by agencies across multiple countries. In December 2022, he was extradited to Australia, where he faces charges related to his alleged leadership of the Sam Gor syndicate.
Tse Chi Lop’s story is a testament to the evolving nature of global crime. His ability to merge traditional criminal operations with modern business practices allowed him to build an empire that rivaled those of the most notorious drug lords in history. His journey from a Toronto immigrant to the alleged head of a multibillion-dollar drug syndicate underscores the complexities of combating transnational organized crime in the 21st century. As his trial unfolds, it offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a criminal enterprise that operated on an unprecedented scale.
